Senate Bill S3143

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S3143

SPONSOR: MANNION
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing school
districts that provide transition services to allow the delivery of such
transition services, including integrated employment, during school
hours

 
PURPOSE OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to authorize vocational rehabilitation
contractors to provide transition services during school hours to
students with a disability, ensure that such contractors are paid for
the delivery of these services, and to ensure school districts are able
to claim state aid for students with disabilities receiving such transi-
tion services.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of this bill would amend the Education Law to include within
              

the duties of a school district (who have the primary planning and
programmatic responsibilities for the provision of transition services
for their students) specific authority to allow ACCES-VR vocational
rehabilitation contractors to provide and be paid for the provision of
transition services (including vocational training, integrated employ-
ment and supportive employment) during school hours during the last
three years of a student with a disability's secondary education.

Section 2 of the bill provides that the effective date shall take effect
on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.

 
JUSTIFICATION:.

Transition from school to work for students with disabilities, requires
a variety of supports and collaborative efforts among education and
adult programs. Collaboration and coordinated efforts among education
and adult programs, including vocational rehabilitation, is essential in
assisting students with disabilities to make the transition from school
to work. Adult Career and Continuing Education Services - Vocational
Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) and the Office of Special Education (OSE)
share responsibility to prepare students with disabilities for success-
ful integrated employment (including supported employment). ACCES-VR and
OSE have.  agreed to work in collaboration with school districts and
others to promote increased access to work-based learning opportunities
for students with disabilities.

Collaboration between school and adult programs to prepare students with
disabilities for successful integrated employment during school hours
during the last three years of their anticipated exit from high school
will, better prepare these students for successful community work expe-
rience, careers, and independent living. Unfortunately, ACCES-VR .voca-
tional rehabilitation contractors report that while transition services,
including vocational education and integrated employment (including
supportive employment) are considered special education or related
services that are necessary to ensuring a free and appropriate public
education ("FAPE) to students with disabilities, ACCES-VR and local

school districts Will not pay for the delivery of these services during
school hours by ACCES-VR contractors.

This bill seeks to remove this impediment to successful community inte-
gration and the employment of students with a disability and foster this
collaboration. It will also allow school districts to claim state aid
for students with disabilities employed or enrolled in employment
programs pursuant to law.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22: S.7745 (Mannion) - Referred to Disabilities_

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law.